Closure mechanism for containers



Nov. 6, 1956 -r. F. SCHLICKSUPP 2,769,532

CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 14, 1953 MHIII u l lllllllllllfi I P RP WV cu E T6 N mm My NUT wMr 5 Q i M w% E m lif I I.

United States Patent Cfiice Patented Nov. 6, 1956 2,769,582 CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR CONTAINERS Theodore F. Schlicksupp, Long Island City, N. Y. Application September 14, 1953, Serial No. 379,860

6 Claims. (Cl. 222513) This invention relates to closure and discharge or dispensing mechanisms for containers for paste-like material, such as toothpaste, toilet creams and the like, and for liquids, such as toilet Water, skin lotions and the like. More specifically the invention relates to devices of this kind for closing collapsible or flexible containers, such as collapsible tubes which are closed at one end, plastic or flexible bottles, and also non-flexible bottles of glass and other materials.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a closure or dispensing mechanism which will produce a clean cutotf of the paste-like material after the desired amount has been discharged, and which will also produce a tight seal to prevent evaporation of the solvents or other vaporizable material which may be within the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge mechanism which can be manipulated with a minimum of effort and time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a discharge mechanism which, while not expensive to manufacture, is nevertheless durable and serviceable over a long period of time.

The invention will be described in connection with a discharge mechanism which is made in the form of an attachment device for application to the neck of a collapsible tube which is closed at one end, such for example as a toothpaste tube. The invention will be understood by a consideration of the accompanying drawings showing two modifications of such a discharge mechanism and from the detailed description thereof which follows.

in these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a toothpaste tube with the device of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view of the discharge mechanism in vertical central section and drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view drawn to the same scale showing the various parts of the mechanism separately, partly in elevation and partly in central section;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail device; and

Fig. 6 is a View representing the development of a portion of the certain parts of the mechanism.

Describing the device briefly, and referring to Figs. 1-6 inclusive, the discharge mechanism of the invention comprises a body member 1 and a manually movable spout member 2. At the lower portion of body member 1 there is a collar 3 which is interiorly threaded to be screwed upon the threaded neck portion of a collapsible tube 4 for the purpose of mounting the device permanently upon the tube in place of the usual closure cap. The movable spout member 2 and a fiXed central post member 5 are mounted within the upper part of body member 1.

Spout member 2 has an axial passageway 6 which is larger in diameter than post 5 so as to leave an annular passage to allow the flow of the paste-like material from the neck of the tube to the upper end of the spout. Such plan view of one of the elements of the upper end is contracted, preferably by a conical formation, as is shown, and provided with a discharge aperture 7. Adjacent this aperture there is an interior conical valve seat 3 which cooperates with a conical valve surface 9 on the upper end of post member 5, the post preferably projecting slightly beyond this conical surface to form a short cylindrical projection which fits closely in the discharge aperture 7, the end of the post being flush with the conical end of the spout member.

The spout member is turned or twisted by grasping a knurled flange 10 thereon, and a cam device, also to be described, causes the end of pout member 2 to move away from the end of post member 5 to the dotted position by a mere one-quarter turn of the spout, thereby fully opening the device to discharge the toothpaste or other material. The device is closed by a one-quarter turn in the reverse direction. Such a construction enables the mechanism to be fully opened or completely closed in an extremely quick and convenient movement. It also provides a tight closure to prevent evaporation.

Describing the mechanism in detail, the post member 5 at its inner end is fixed to or made integral with a perforated plate or disk 11, this disk having a series of perforations or holes 12 therein (Fig. 4) to allow the paste-like material to reach the annular passage between the post and spout member above referred to. The outer margin of plate 11 is clamped between the upper surface of collar 3 and a spacing ring or washer 13, which if desired may be made integral with plate 11.

Between the upper side of spacing collar 13 and a shoulder 14, which is formed on the interior of body member 1, is the rim portion of a spring member 15 and the margin of a sealing diaphragm 16, both of which will be presently described. These parts are all held in rigidly fixed position by means of the internally threaded collar 3, and this collar is forced into the lower cylindrical skirt portion 17 of body member 1 with a force fit. The parts are preferably held together in this manner, although other means of securing the collar insposition may be used, if desired.

Below the knurled flange 1i) spout cylindrical portion 13, and formed on the surface of this cylinder there are two similarly shaped projections 19 and 19 arranged from each other. Each of these proiections includes a helical, face cam surface 29 at the lower end of which is a locking lug 21. Cam surfaces 25 engage respectively two bosses 22 which project inwardly from opposite sides of a cylindrical bore 23 in the upper portion of body member 1. As the spout member 2 is turned by means of the knurled flange 10 these cam surfaces 213, engaging the lower edges of the bosses 22, force the spout member inwardly from the dotted position in Fig. 2 to the fuli line position where the discharge opening 7 is closed by the valve parts 8 and 9, previously referred to.

The relative position of bosses 22 and 2% when the discharge aperture is closed 6. When the spout member is turned in the opposite direction one-quarter turn the cam surfaces slide along the lower corners of bosses 22 until the locking lugs 21 engage the left-hand edges of these bosses as indicated by the dotted position of bosses 22 in 6. Stop lugs 21 prevent the disengagement of the cam surfaces 2'8 from the lugs and the separation of the nozzle and body members.

In order to permit assembly of these parts, spaces 24 are arranged between the stop lugs 21 and the adiacent ends of the opposite cam formations 219 and 19. These spaces are slightly wider than the Width of bosses 22 so that in assembling the parts these bosses 22 are placed opposite spaces 24 and the body member 2 moved inwardly and then turned slightly in order to move steps 21 beyond the bosses .22 and place the bosses in engagemember 2 has a the cam surfaces is shown in Fig.

'tion being of reduced diameter.

' 30 at the upper end plastic being a s mentwith the earns 20. Release of the spout member then allows the parts to be held in this position by means of the spring previously referred to.

Spring 15 has an outer circularrim portion by which it is clamped between the shoulder 14 on body 'member 1 and theupper surface of the spacing ring or washer 13.

inner edge of rim portion 25 are 26 each terminating in a head portion 27 which projects radially from the end of its finger. The spring fingers 26 are normally, that is, they tend to remain, in the plane of the rim portion 25, and are displaceable therefrom during the rotation of the spout member 2 from open to closed position.

These head portions 27 engage the lower surface of a collar 28 which surrounds and makes a turning fit with the surface of a cylindrical projection 29 at the bottom of cylindrical portion 18 of the spout member, this projec- The width of collar 28 is preferably such that even when the spout member 2 is in its uppermost position spring fingers 26 are somewhat displaced from their normal plane so as to urge the collar upwardly.

The inner margin of sealing diaphragm 16 surrounds cylindrical projection Projecting from the three arcuate fingers I of this projection and held against this shoulder by the upper surface of collar 28 and the pressure of the three spring fingers 26. Collar 28, diaphragm 16 and shoulder together form a seal between the lower end of the spout member 2 and the interior wall of body member 1 which permits both the rotatory and axial movements of the spout member. This seal prevents the escape of the contents of the container along the surface of bore 23 (Fig. 3), the spout member necessarily fitting rather loosely in this bore. It will be understood that when the spout member 2 is rotated from open to closed position and vice versa the cylindrical projection 29 turns in collar 28 which is held stationary by the spring fingers 26, and also that the surface of shoulder 30 turns with respect to the inner surface .of the margin of diaphragm 16 The spout member 2 is guided during its in and out movement by the outer surfaces of the two cam projections 19 and 19' which are cylindrical and which contact the surface of bore 23. It is surfaces of bosses 22 contacting cylindrical portion 18. The lower end portion of the spout member is guided and maintained in its central position within this-bore by means of the collar 28 and spring fingers 26. Consequently, the spout member moves coaxially with the post member 5 during the quarter turn opening and closing movements.

The closing device may be made of any suitable material, metal being preferred. Sealing diaphragm 16 is preferably non-resilient but highly flexible, polyethylene table material.

It will be understood that the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: a

1. In a discharge mechanism for containers, a body member constructed to be attached to the container, said body member having an axial bore at its outer end, a postlike member disposed within said bore and fixed at its inner end to said body member, a manually movable spout member mounted within said bore and projecting from said body member, said spout member surrounding said post and forming therewith an annular passage for. the material to be discharged, cooperating valve and valve seat members on said respective post and spout members arranged to controla discharge aperture at the outer end .of said spout member, cooperating cam formations on said spout and body members respectively to cause axail shifting of said spout member to an inner position to close said discharge aperture and to an outer position to open said discharge aperture when said spout member is manually rotated.

29 and is seated against a shoulder also guided by the inner ber, a manually movable spout member projecting from a bore in said body member, said spout member surround- 2. In a discharge mechanism for containers, a body member constructed to be attached to the containena post-like member fixed at its inner end to said body meming said post and forming therewith an annular passage for the material to be discharged, cooperating valve and valve seat members on said respective post and spout members arranged to control a discharge aperture at the outer end of said spout member, spring means arranged to urge said spout member to open position, cooperating cam formations on said spout and body members respectively to effect axial shifting of said spout member to an inner position to close said discharge aperture and to an outer position to open said discharge aperture when said spout member is manually rotated, an annular diaphragm fixed at its outer periphery to said body member, a cylindrical extension of reduced diameter on said spout member forming a shoulder and projecting through the aperture in said diaphragm, a collar fitting said extension and permitting the turning movement of said spout member, said spring means being associated With said collar and causing the collar to clamp the inner periphery of said diaphragm against said shoulder to form a'seal for preventing the escape of vaporized material from the interior of the container. 7

3.-In a discharge mechanism for containers, a body member constructed to be attached to the container, a manually movable hollow spout member projecting from 'a bore in said body member, cooperating valve and valve seat members on said respective spout and body members arranged to control a discharge 'aperture'at the outer end of said spout member, cooperating cam formations on said spout and body members respectively to cause axial shifting of said spout member to an inner position to close said discharge aperture and to an outer position to open said discharge aperture when said spout member is manually rotated, and spring means to maintain said cam formations in engagement with one another, said spring means comprising a rim portion fixed to said body member, and a plurality of arcuate fingers projecting from said rimportion and having their inner ends engaging said spout member at its inner end.

4. In a discharge mechanism for containers, a body member constructed to be attached to the container and havingva cylindrical bore at its outer end, a manually movable spout member mounted within said bore and projecting axially from said body member, cooperating valve and valve seat members on said respective spout and body members arranged to control a discharge aperture at the outer end of said spout member, cam bosses projecting inwardly from said bore, cam formations on said spout member, said formations having cylindrical surface portionsturning in said bore and face cam portions on their edges coacting with said bosses to cause axial shifting of said spout member to an inner position to close said discharge aperture and to an outer position to open said discharge aperture when said spout member is manually rotated.

5. In a discharge mechanism for containers, a body 7 arranged to control a discharge. aperture .at the outer:

end of said spout member, cooperating cam formations on said spout and body members respectively to cause axial shifting of said spout member to an inner position to close said discharge aperture and to an outer position to open said discharge aperture when'sa'id spout member disposed within said bore and fixed at is manually rotated, and spring means to maintain said cam formations in engagement with one another.

6. In a discharge mechanism for containers, a body member constructed to be attached to the container, a post-like member fixed at its inner end to said body member, a manually movable spout member projecting from a bore in said body member, said spout member surrounding said post and forming therewith an annular passage for the material to be discharged, cooperating valve and valve seat members on said respective post and spout members arranged to control a discharge aperture at the outer end of said spout member, spring means arranged to urge said spout member to open position, cooperating cam formations on said spout and body members respectively to elfect axial shifting of said spout 15 17228O2 member to an inner position to close said discharge aperture and to an outer position to open said discharge aperture When said spout member is manually rotated, an annular diaphragm fixed at its outer periphery to said body member, and means including said spring means for maintaining the inner margin of said diaphragm in sealing engagement with said spout member, so as to prevent the escape of vaporized material from the interior of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McLaughlin Jan. 11, 1927 King July 30, 1929 

